Running 8.5 on 2003 server

[Stereo Steve]

We have just had our 2003 SBS installed, mainly to be used for email (exchange) and also file sharing. As it's a very robust PC that is not going to be used for anything else I felt it would be good to put actinic on it and maybe download the orders onto our dispatch PC which has the courier software on etc.

All good so far but in order to maintain the site, I need to remote into the server from assorted PC's which also works OK using remote dektop. However, I'm getting 2 desktops, unlike when you remote into a normal PC. So, if I run actinic on the server and then remote in on the laptop and open actinic, it appears to be a different program. Making changes on the laptop does change the server version once you go to a different screen and back. So, if I change produvt name on the laptop and then on the server, switch to orders and back, the change is there OK. The only thing I can see is that if I change an image on the laptop, it does not change on the server, even though the image link has changed.

So, the upshot is that it all kind of works fine but with a few display issues. What I want to know is if I am playing with fire by doing this? Can anyone see any pitfalls?

Also, is it possible to log into the actual desktop on a server machine instead of this 'session desktop'?

[Duncan Rounding]

Rather use a VNC program such as RealVNC or even PCAnywhere. That way you can take hold of the server desktop rather than run in a session. I think running in a session may lead to problems or at least, as you are seeing, a bit unpredictable.

[Stereo Steve]

Yeah, I've heard of such things. Any idea which is the best/ cheapest option?

[Duncan Rounding]

There are many free VNC programs such as RealVNC but there are many others as well. Depends somewhat on the security requirements you want.

[completerookie]

I've experimented with most VNC programmes over time, and I've plumped for UltraVNC - small download etc, but as it goes, fast and can be made secure.
updated at reasonable intervals and you can VNC from most things.

[Stereo Steve]

Tried RealVNC which seems to work perfectly so a big thanks for that. At the mo its on a local network so security not a major issue. I will investigate further if I need to remote in from further afield.